Controlled Environmental Seedling Production

Problem Statement:
Members of the Agripark cooperatives and their families are dependent on the success of this agribusiness venture for their livelihood. They have identified that the limited knowledge of agricultural best practices eg seedling nursery production and related activities constitute a serious threat to their efforts to yield quality seedlings and to increase their income and to expand the business. In addition their knowledge of controlled environment seedling production is extremely limited. It should also be borne in mind that their products are being sold to other cooperatives within the Agripark and the open market and that they have to adhere to generally acceptable quality, safety and health measures for their products and seedling nursery environment.

Members of the various Agripark cooperatives (especially Khanya seedling nursery cooperative) have also conceded that they have a very limited knowledge of controlled environment seedling production practices. They are convinced that sound knowledge of the aforementioned will contribute towards better quality seedlings, a safer and healthier seedling production environment.

Khanya Agricultural Cooperative (seedling nursery) must be equipped with knowledge and information (including the application thereof) of controlled environment seedling production and related matters referred to above.

They must be able to apply the newly acquired knowledge within their respective cooperatives.

The newly acquired knowledge must enable the beneficiary cooperatives towards the said practices and ultimately ensure they understand and apply generally acceptable controlled environment seedling production.

Knowledge transfer will be taking place through site visits, one-on-one and group meetings as well as the development of information sheets and documents which the volunteer must prepare and submit to the FAMU SA Eastern Cape Office and the beneficiary cooperatives.

In addition, the volunteer will be required to do a presentation of about 20 to 30 minutes on a topic of his/ her choice to a small group of members of the Faculty of Science and Agriculture (academics); this will be scheduled for the second Thursday or Friday of the visit.